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Hockessin child rapist gets life in prison, plus 80 years

A Hockessin man was sentenced to seven life terms plus 80 years in prison for raping a child over a nine-year period, the Delaware Department of Justice said Friday.

Robert Hearne, 51, was tried and convicted in January on seven counts of rape in the first degree, four counts of unlawful sexual conduct in the second degree, one count of unlawful sexual conduct in the first degree, continuous sexual abuse of a child, sexual abuse of a child by a person in a position of trust in the first degree and dangerous crime against a child.

The victim revealed to a therapist that Hearne sexually abused her.

Hearne was sentenced to life in prison for each of the first-degree rape convictions, 35 years for the continuous sexual abuse of a child, 35 years for sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust and 10 years for the dangerous crime against a child.

Hearne received probation on the other charges. Should Hearne be released from prison, he would be required to register as a Tier III sex offender.